Re: [ARSCLIST] audio reel archival containers

["Richard L. Hess" <ArcLists@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

At 09:09 AM 8/11/2004 -0400, Watsky, Lance wrote in part:
> My concern with your posting, is
> when you mentioned that "cardboard boxes would work well". It
> needs to be added that the "old" cardboard boxes are usually
> not inert to begin with, and have a very high Ph, they will decompose
> over time and eventually give off acid on their own. Certainely, we have
> all seen old acetate tapes that have turned brown, sometimes even
> leaving an imprint of the plastic reel. Since this is true, then
> the acid that is emitted from the breakdown of the cardboard boxes will
> actually help to speed up the deterioration, unless new inert boxes
> are utilized.
>  

Hi, Lance,

I added the bold italics and would like to suggest that perhaps when you
see the imprint of the reel on the box and the box is more deteriorated
outside the imprint of the reel that is the time the box is obtaining
some of its acid from the tape.

Anyway, that is one possible interpretation and that was what I meant in
my original post about the box acting something like a molecular
sieve.

Just my, ummm, out-of-the-box thinking <ka-ching>.

Cheers,

Richard